Chapter 9

Tang Dao parked the car at a gas station, taking a break, eating, drinking, and relaxing. The three of them took turns to keep watch during the night. There was even a daring soul who attempted to steal fuel but ended up subdued by Osborne. They released him after a meal.

The following evening, after ten o'clock, the gas station attendant informed Tang Dao that there was a call for him. He signaled the other two to stay alert, and then he answered the call.

"Hush..." Tang Dao placed a finger to his lips, gesturing for Osborne to stay quiet. He then clapped his hands, knocking Robert's feet off the steering wheel. "Man, your feet stink worse than Osborne's mouth."

After making the remark, he got out of the car, headed to the convenience store, picked up the half-hung phone, and leaned against the chocolate cabinet. "Hello?"

"Come to the Lublin border guard station," came the low voice of Tire from the other end. He hung up after uttering only a few words.

Tang Dao felt a bit bewildered. He took out two coins from his pocket, tossed them on the table, turned, and left, making sure to take the bag with him.

"Hey! Hey!" The waiter stretched halfway out of the counter, waving his hands and shouting. But as soon as he spoke, Tang Dao sprinted away.

"What's that idiot doing with sanitary napkins?"

Tang Dao pulled open the car door and climbed into the front passenger seat. He snapped his fingers, instructing Robert, "Drive, head to the border guard station." Without even looking, he tossed the items in his hand to Osborne. "Put these away, we might need them later."

Osborne held a sanitary napkin, his eyes wide in astonishment. The napkin even bore the slogan, "At night, harder than your boyfriend."

Uh...

The Englishman was left speechless, and his eyelids twitched slightly as he silently stored the item.

The Lublin border station was located in the northwest corner of the ancient city. About 30 heavily armed Polish soldiers were stationed there. Searchlights scanned the surroundings at night, and a machine gun could be seen mounted on the two-story building, although its model was unclear, likely an RPK machine gun.

As the heavy truck approached, they noticed Tire and his team standing by the road cone, alongside a captain in a drab military uniform. They disembarked.

"Nicholas, meet Captain Boldenski of the Polish Border Guard," Tire introduced.

"Good evening, Captain," Tang Dao greeted politely. Boldenski acknowledged the gesture with a perfunctory touch of their fingertips before frowning at the size of the truck behind them. "Quite a sizable cargo for tonight. What's the commotion?"

Tire, well-experienced in such matters, understood that the captain was angling for additional benefits.

"I have two bottles of French wine over there. I know it's your favorite. I'll have them delivered to your place," Tang Dao offered, recognizing the need to sweeten the deal. Given the shortage of supplies in the region, even Poland, as a neighbor, was struggling. Many items were seeing inflated prices, and this wine could fetch hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

That's a stack of Franklins right there.

Even if Boldenski didn't drink it himself, he could profit handsomely by selling it to others.

Sure enough, Boldenski's demeanor softened, and after casting a glance at Tang Dao, he signaled his soldiers to move the road cone. It was a smoothly executed maneuver. "Proceed, but remember, things can get complicated."

"Don't worry, we'd rather not invite complications," Tire replied, nodding, and motioned for the truck to pass through the border station.

Crossing the border so effortlessly?

Osborne and Robert couldn't believe how straightforward it seemed.

It was almost too simple.

"Follow our car, and stay on track. The border area can be treacherous," Tire called out from his jeep.

Tang Dao signaled Robert to follow Tire's vehicle. The darkness of the night provided the perfect cover. They could only feel the engine's hum and the vehicle's weight on the road. They were navigating an unmarked path, really more of a route than a road.

Year after year, this route caused economic losses of tens of millions of dollars to both Poland and Ukraine. Even with the best intentions, corruption ran rampant. Captain Poldenski was a case in point—wealthy from collecting tolls, investing in overseas real estate, and seeking immigration opportunities. It was evident that a vortex of corruption was brewing in Eastern Europe.

In fact, such illicit routes existed worldwide. The "Golden Road," for instance, was the smuggling route between Mexico and San Diego, where billions of dollars flowed annually. The world held ample opportunities for those willing to risk their lives.

After about two hours of driving, around one in the morning, the jeep's taillights illuminated, and its speed gradually decreased. Under the dim light, they saw a small village, seemingly abandoned and eerily silent.

Tire exited the vehicle and approached the truck, raising his head. "We'll rest here for the night."

"Have we reached Ukraine?" Tang Dao inquired.

"We've passed the border. We're about 50 kilometers from the border region," Tire explained. The faint chirping of birds disrupted the silence. His expression changed suddenly, and he urgently signaled everyone to turn off their lights.

"What's going on?" Tang Dao asked.

"Someone is approaching." Tire's face wore a concerned expression. Just as he claimed that this place went unnoticed, someone had intruded. He had endured a stinging slap, and if not for the darkness concealing his face, he would have looked quite dismayed. Tang Dao also furrowed his brows. "Is this a colleague of yours?"

Tire remained silent but ordered his subordinates to investigate. No one wanted an unexpected incident. No one wanted complications.

Tang Dao couldn't afford for this mission to go awry. Perhaps, he mused, as he felt his pulse quicken, this was part of his adjustment to his new identity. He was no longer the Stanford top student or the kid from Conwy Street in Warsaw. He was now a businessman, a purveyor of military goods, fated to navigate the world of blood and vengeance.

After a moment of silence, Tang Dao took out a lighter and set the photo he had found ablaze. The flames danced in the dark night, casting eerie shadows on his face. He looked grim and unsettling under the fiery light. "We must tidy things up."

They were unfortunate witnesses, stumbling upon a situation they were never meant to see. If released, they could pose a threat. Tang Dao had no choice but to send them on a different journey.

Though Tang Dao spoke lightly, there was turmoil beneath the surface.

He was adjusting to his new identity, his new life—a life filled with darkness and the unending pursuit of interests.

Upon hearing the "sentence" of death, the couple's resistance intensified, but it was futile. In the end, they were overpowered by sheer force, and their lives were extinguished.

Then they dug a grave and buried them.